A client being served in a busy inpatient psychiatric unit becomes very noisy and combative. The other clients are reporting the noise and that they are afraid that they will be hurt by the client. The nurse determines that the best course of action for all involved is to seclude the client until the client is able to regain control of his behavior. On which ethical principle did the nurse base this decision?

Utilitarianism is an ethical framework based on the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number. In this scenario, the nurse is balancing the individual rights of the combative client against the safety and well-being of the entire unit. By choosing seclusion, the nurse is making a decision that prioritizes the collective safety of the other patients and staff, even though it temporarily restricts the autonomy of the individual patient. Rationale: A. Deontology is an ethical theory that focuses on duties and rules, regardless of the consequences. A deontologist might argue that it is a nurse's duty to never restrict a person's liberty, or conversely, that it is a strict duty to follow hospital policy. It does not focus on the mathematics of providing the most benefit to the group. B. The nurse is looking at the outcome (the consequence) of the action. By secluding one noisy and combative person, the nurse ensures that the majority of the patients (the greater number) are protected from fear and physical harm. The decision is based on maximizing the overall utility or good of the environment. C. Nonmaleficence means "do no harm." Although this is a foundational nursing principle, it usually refers to the nurse's obligation to avoid harming the specific patient under their care. In this case, the decision is specifically about balancing the harm/benefit across a group of people, which is the hallmark of utilitarianism. D. Veracity refers to the duty to tell the truth and be honest with patients. The nurse should be honest with the client about why they are being secluded, but veracity is not the ethical justification used to prioritize the safety of the group over the freedom of the individual.